I would know that voice anywhere. I step out of his embrace on wobbly legs.
Barry makes sure I’m steady on my feet before releasing me. Then he walks around Crew and starts unloading the Jeep.
“Hey, I didn’t know you would be here.”
“Obviously,” he sneers.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Your little show.” He jerks toward Barry.
“We were just goofing around.” I tug at the hem on my sweatshirt, a nervous habit. It’s a mistake this time. I see the minute it registers with him that it’s not mine, or the one he bought me.
“Turn around, Berklee.” His voice is low and barely controlled.
I close my eyes, knowing he’s going to lose his shit. Slowly I turn in a complete circle, stopping to face him once again.
“His,” he scoffs.
“Mine now. I’ve had it since high school. It’s just a piece of clothing, Crew.”
“His fucking name is on your back, Berklee.”
“Yes, he’s family. Learn to deal with it. If this is a deal breaker for our arrangement, then so be it.” I hold my head high.
“Damn it, Berklee.” His fists clench at his sides as he steps closer. “I want to tear it from your body and devour you. We agreed that it would only be me.”
I soften a little at his words, taking a small step closer as well. “It is you, Crew. You have to trust me. This?” I pull the sweatshirt away from my body. “It’s a piece of clothing. It’s not him.”
“I don’t like it,” he grumbles.
“Okay, but that doesn’t change anything.”
“Hey, man.” Matt steps beside us and holds his hand out to Crew. “It’s been a while.”
The guys shake hands, and then Matt turns to me. Innocently, he lays his hand on my shoulder. “We’re getting ready to head out.”
I see the fire in Crew’s eyes. “Thanks, give us just a second.” He nods and walks away. “I see that look in your eyes, and you need to calm the hell down. I’m not with anyone but you. We’re with friends today. Let’s enjoy it.”
“You’re riding with us,” he says, reaching out for my hand.
I see it coming so I step back. “No, I’m not. I’m riding with Barry, Maggie, and Matt. You go ride with Zane. We’ll see each other at the breaks.”
“Berklee.” This time his voice is more pleading and less anger.
“Crew.” I place my hands on his chest. “Boundaries, remember?”
“Fuck boundaries.”
“Go.” I motion to Zane’s Jeep. “I’ll see you soon.” I remove my hands and run off toward Barry’s truck.
“You good?” Maggie asks.
“Yeah, just saying hi.” I smile at her.
“Uh-huh,” the three of them say at once.
Looking over, I see Crew watching me, so I wave at him and smile. I see him relax a fraction, blow out a deep breath, and then head toward Zane and his Jeep.
STALKING TOWARD ZANE’S Jeep, I glare at him. That fucker knew she would be here. Would’ve been nice to be given a little warning. When I reach him, he’s checking the air in the tires.
“What the fuck, Zane?”
He looks up at me, confused. “You knew she was coming and you didn’t tell me.”
He grins. “You’re welcome. I thought you would want the chance to spend the day with your girl.”
Tell her that. “Yeah, well, she has other plans. Apparently, it’s with Barry and Matt,” I grumble.
Zane’s smile falters. “I thought you two were. . . .”
“We are,” I say, frustrated, running my hands through my hair. I don’t want to explain it to him because I don’t like it. I agreed to it, but I fucking hate it. One night with her and I want to change the rules. “It’s fucking complicated.”
Zane stands and dusts off his hands. “So un-complicate it.”
“Easier said than done,” I say, heading to my side of the Jeep.
“Stay with them,” I tell Zane once he’s in the driver’s seat. We start the train, Barry’s Jeep leading the pack, Zane and I right behind them. I don’t take my eyes off her.
“You might as well go ahead and wipe that scowl off your face. You think that’s going to give you brownie points with her?”
I ignore him.
“Look, she’s made her choice, for today at least. Berklee is not the kind of girl who’s going to bend to what you want. You have to give and take with girls like her.”
“Girls like her?” I ask.
“Yeah, the good ones. The one’s you want to take home and introduce to your mother. Those girls.”
“She’s already met my mother.”
Zane rolls his eyes. “No shit, Sherlock. What I mean is that she’s better than the casual hookup. Honestly, that’s so out of character for her. I was shocked when she told me.”
“What did she tell you?”
“Just that you two had come to a mutually beneficial agreement and that she knew what she was doing.”
“That makes one of us,” I mumble.
“What’s that?” He glances over at me, then back to the trail.
“Nothing.” I force myself to tear my eyes from Berklee and try to enjoy the day.
We ride for a couple hours before stopping at the makeshift campsite at the back of the property. “Let’s start a fire. I’m sure the girls will want to get warmed up after being in the wind.”
Zane and I unpack the firewood from the back of his Jeep and start the fire. I hear female laughter and turn to see all five of the girls who are with us today gathered around, holding their hands out to get warm. I catch Berklee’s eye and she smiles brightly, her cheeks red from the wind. I want to go to her, to hold her against me and warm her up.
“So, who are you all here with?” one of the girls asks.
“My brother Barry and his friend, Matt,” Maggie answers.
“Damn! They’re both so hot.”
“Who are you here with?” Berklee asks her.
“My brothers, Scott and Craig. We whined until they let us tag along.”
The girls all laugh. “So, you’re with Barry and you’re with Matt?” another girl asks.
That’s my sign to walk away. I know the answer is just going to piss me off. She’ll say she’s not with anyone, but that’s a lie. She’s with me. Or she should be.
I join the guys over by the grills. I’ve met Craig and Scott before, so we shake hands before I go to Barry and Matt. “Hey, man.” We bump fists. “She’s stubborn,” Barry tells me. “Always has been. Both of them stubborn as hell and loyal to a fault.”
“Women,” I mumble, taking a swig of my Gatorade.
“Your sister’s looking good,” Matt says with a grin.
“Man, I don’t want to hear that shit.” Barry shakes his head.
“Just telling it like it is.” He looks over at me like he’s going to say something else, probably about Berklee, and I stop him with a glare. He holds his water up in salute and takes a drink.
Good choice, asshole. Fighting today would really piss Berklee off.